McMinnville to Ghana

Members of the local healthcare community travel across the world to improve medical care in Africa

Starla Pointer / News-Register
In addition to visiting the hospital and other medical-related sites last July, Dr. Fredrick Duah stopped by some McMinnville landmarks, such as the new Abraham Lincoln statue.

(Ossie Bladine/News-Register) Members of GhanaHope, a local nonprofit, left yesterday for a medical trip to Ghana to improve the quality of health care for women and families at New Abirem Hospital in New Abirem, Ghana.

"The hospital has no washing machine, no food services for patients, limited electricity and cribs for children to sleep in. People bring their own linens and food," wrote Shannon Carefoot, residential nurse at Willamette Valley Medical Center, in a blog post on the WVMC website.

"The opportunity to be part of making a tiny difference in Ghana is most exciting – a chance to truly do something that would give my life a purpose beyond my imaginings," Carefoot said.

N-R Reporter Starla Pointer highlighted the nonprofit last July when a Ghanian doctor, Dr. Fredrick Duah, made his first visit to Oregon.

"GhanaHope's purpose is to encourage exchanges of personnel and knowledge between the two countries and to provide equiptment, supplies and training to the hospital in New Abirem and other villages."

As part of its fundraising efforts, the local nonprofit took control of the annual McMinnville Blues & BBQs event at the Granery District.